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Cotler, who was given a $50,000 contract by county commissioners to work on the development agreement, said he drafted an outline with all the issues that were raised in the past.

"We've had two meetings with CCA, going through that outline in very general terms, just to throw out the topics on the table," Cotler told commissioners.

Cotler also gave his input to Mark White, the attorney who represents Nye County on the drafting of development agreements, for inclusion in the agreement. More meetings between Cotler and CCA were scheduled Wednesday.

"Our goal has been to expand the original development agreement to more than just a development agreement to any other style of project and address the thoughts and concerns associated with a correctional facility," Cotler said.

Nye County Commission Chairman Joni Eastley said commissioners didn't have a copy of the revised development agreement as CCA hasn't had time to reply to Cotler's remarks. She proposed tabling the discussion until Dec. 16, as there will only be one regular commission meeting in November due to the election and the Thanksgiving holiday.

Nye County Manager Rick Osborne asked about scheduling a special meeting. Eastley said her schedule was totally booked the rest of this month and the first week or two in November. She said a second public hearing would have to be scheduled during a regular commission meeting with adequate public notice.

When Judith Holmgren asked for a copy of the revised development agreement, Osborne replied, "It's all confidential negotiations at this point until we get a draft that we feel is suitable to present to the board, and at that point it becomes a public document."

The crowd booed.

Asked for a comment after the delay was announced, Louise Grant, CCA's vice-president of marketing, said, "CCA is disappointed that the development agreement is not yet finalized. Assuredly, our government partners are eager for us to have that last component of the plan final and secure so we can move forward with this exciting project. We trust that the commission will work to help us make final arrangements by the date they'd just indicated. CCA will continue to operate in good faith to move forward this very important agreement."

Eastley ran a tightly-controlled public comment period, with two minutes allowed for each speaker. They were restricted to commenting on suggestions to be included in the development agreement, not whether they liked the project or not.

Eastley indicated her exhaustion at being bombarded with comments about the detention center, asking speakers not to talk about things like a "60 Minutes" news special on CCA or similar topics. The crowd spilled into Room B, where a television monitor was installed.

Frank Smith, representing the Private Corrections Institute, was cut short after two minutes..

"Nobody did the most basic research on this," Smith said. "The development agreement is predicated on certain premises. One is that somehow this would be an economic benefit to the community. We found no evidence the prison has stimulated growth. In fact, we found evidence the prison has impeded economic growth."

County commission candidate Harley Kulkin wanted a public hearing where the public isn't limited to two minutes. Jeff Wiiest asked commissioners to table action until January, so the new board can take responsibility for their actions.

Numerous suggestions were made by Pahrump residents.

* Bob Howard said CCA should implement water conservation measures, like officials at the Indian Springs prison over Wheeler Pass.

"Every acre-foot of water we don't have is a house we can't build," he said.

* Butch Clendenen, a nearby neighbor opposed to the project who engaged in a heated conversation with Commissioner Butch Borasky after the meeting, said there need to be more roads to the detention center than Mesquite Avenue.

* Joanie Kelley wanted Mesquite Avenue paved and also possibly a second access point from Blosser Ranch Road. Kelley also asked for a traffic light at Highway 160 and Mesquite Avenue, which she said is bad enough already for accidents.

* Rolf Koss also pushed for a second access road.

* David Wright wanted a four-lane road on Mesquite Avenue and Highway 160 widened.

* Karen Letourneau wanted a clause mandating prisoners wouldn't be released in Pahrump, possibly by providing a bus service to Las Vegas.

* Caitlin May, who said CCA had a bad record when it came to escapes, wanted the company to pay for her water.

* Stan Davis was concerned over the flight pattern to the Calvada Meadows Airstrip over the detention center.

* John Koenig said more deputies should be provided for the Nye County Sheriff's Office.

* Robin Lloyd questioned the $6.9 million price paid for the property, which was valued at only $44,000 in 2004.

"That leads us to believe there are some kind of shady dealings going on," Lloyd said.

Neighbor Ed Velarve pointed out county commissioners approved the zoning change over the objections of the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission.

Eastley said four county commissioners voted to override the RPC. The property was rezoned to the new municipal facilities zone, which was created just for projects like the detention center in the new zoning code.

George Gingell, a regular attendee at county commission meetings, said people who complain they didn't know about the project before this weren't paying attention.

"I'm tired of hearing the same thing, 'I only heard about it last week, two weeks ago,'" Gingell said. "There's been a least 15 meetings with CCA explaining all the information they were giving out. If these people don't read the paper, don't watch TV, what are you supposed to do, knock on their door and lead them over here?"

After another hour or more of heated discussion, Eastley proclaimed, "I don't think we got anything of substance to use in the development agreement."

While Kenny Bent presented a petition with 541 signatures opposing the project, Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Lucy Ivins spoke about 100 letters submitted by business owners in favor of the detention center.

Theresa Moran from the Mankins Family Trust, spoke in favor of the facility as providing "severely needed tax dollars."
http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2008/Oct-24-Fri-2008/news/24688419.html